Golf glove



June 15, 1937. P. HAY 2,083,604

GOLF GLOVE Filed July 20, 1956 'INVENTOR. P: r52 HAY BY mm ATTORNEYPatented June 15, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE GOLI' GLOVE PeterKay, Monter ey, Calif. Application July 20, 1936, SerialNo. 91,459

9 Claim.

' theories are advanced for this conclusion, but

it is believed that experience indicates that inasmuch as the swing isfrom left to right (in the her to produce both control and power.

case of a right hand player) it is because the left side of the playeris foremost in the conclusion of the swing that the left hand is thelogical mem- To carry this theory into practical and satisfactory eflectnecessitates a proper gripping of the club with the left hand during allparts of the swing, that is in the addressing of the ball,.

the backswing, and the downswing. Certain it is that when the left handis properly positioned on the club grip and the grip is firm, from thebeginning to the end of the swing, the possibility of hooking or slicingor other error in making the shot is reduced to a negligible minimum.

It is a common fault, however, among all classes of golfers toimproperly grip the club with the left hand at varying stages of theswing with disastrous results.

For example, many players properly grasp the club at the moment ofaddressing the ball, but lose the grip by relaxing the third and fourthfingers as the backswing progresses. As the downswing commences theirdesire to obtain maximum distance with the shot is telegraphed to thehands and there is a tendency to grip the club handle too tightly. Whenthis is done the muscles on the left side .of the body, including thehand and arm, are "frozen" to the extent that all semblance of desirablecontrol and power-are lost.

Under these circumstances some means of insuring a firm grip on the clubthroughout the swing is necessary and desirable. In many instances theuse of such a device may be temporar'y only for proper training as togripping. In other instances players may find its use an adifentageouspermanent supplement to the playing equipment- It is therefore an objectof the present invention to provide a glove so constructed as to teachthe correct use of the third and fourth fingers of the left hand-in griing the clubs for the better results to follow and at the same timeprovide an article which is both convenient and comfortable in use.

Other objects will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

Reference is now had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is aperspective use. a

Figure 2 is a plan view of the back of the glove.

Figure 3 is a plan glove.

Figure 4 is a plan view view of the glove in view of the palm side ofthe or the back of a glove embodying a. modification of the invention.

The numeral Ill indicates a glove of basically conventionalconstruction, to which the present I invention has been added.

A reinforcing strap ll, having a buckle I2, is stitched to the wristportion of the glove so that the connection thereof takes place on theoutside of the wearer's wrist. The use of this reinforcement is toovercome the strain put on the glove during its use and makes itpossible to secure the same to the player's hand. A stub strap i3,integral with the strap ii, projects therefrom at substantially a 45angle, from a point adjacent the thumb on the palm side, toward thefourth finger, and carries a buckle i4.

A strap II, substantially as wide as two of the glove fingers is securedto the back of the glove to overlay the fingers or stalls l8 and H bystitching or other suitable means as at ll. As illustrated in Figure 2of the drawing the loose end of the strap lI-is reduced as at I! forengagement with the buckle I 4.

As clearly illustrated in Figure 1, in use the end It of strap I5 isdrawn into engagement with buckle It, thus substantiallyclosing thethird and fourth fingers of the wearer. Care should be exercised not todraw strap l5 too tightly about the third and fourth fingers since thiswould tend to tighten the muscles of the player too much and at the sametime it would limit the freedom with which the club grips maybe insertedand withdrawnv from the loop thus formed. It will be appreciated that itis purely optional whether the. player unloosens strap I! when selectingclubs for each shot or simply adjusts the same at the beginning of theplay and slides the club handle under the fingers and controlling strap.Since substantially all club grips are of uniform size it is probablethat the average user would prefer to adjust the strap ii once for theuse of all clubs during subsequent shots, occasionally removing gloveIII for relaxation.

The modification illustrated in Figure 4v comprises the substitution ofa mitten 20 for the 5 third and fourth fingers l8 and II, respectivelyillustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, as a means of securing thefingers accommodated therein against relative movement. In this form astrap 2lis stiched or otherwise secured adjacent the 10 tip of themitten-20 for engagement with buckle Experiments have proved that thesubject matter of the present invention is quite useful for the purposedesigned whether it be a means I for teaching the correct thing to bedone in play or as a device for constant use in actual play. Theseexperiments have indicated that the glove overcomes any tendency toloosen the grip at the critical stages of the swing and thereby promotescontrol and accuracy in the making of the various shots.

It is to be appreciated that the invention may take many forms inaddition to those illustrated in the drawing and therefore I do not wishto be understood as limiting myself to the preferred form only. Forexample, it would seem entirely feasible to manufacture a gloveincorporating the improvements of this invention by cutting strap l8 andits reduced portion l9 as an integral part of the back of the glove l0and secure the inner halves of fingers l6 and I! thereto by the usualstitching.

Similarly other means may be found in lieu of a buckle and straparrangement to secure the third and fourth fingers of the hand againstopening. For instance, it may be feasible to stitch the tops of theglove fingers for the third and fourth fingers of the hand to the palmof glove so that the same would be in a substantially closed position atall times or an extension piece may be provided for fingers l6 and ll tobe stitched to the wrist portion of the glove. Also it may be that goodmanufacturing practice would dictate the use of a snap fastener or otherfastening means for buckle M.

It is also quite obvious that gloves embodying the principle of thisinvention may find many uses in addition to the game of golf. Forexample, the principle may be useful in other sports such as tennis,badminton, and even in certain intrating but two forms I do not wish tolimit myself to these forms only but rather desire protection accordingto the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A golf glove having means for securing the third and fourth fingersthereof in a substantially 'fist like closedposition regardless of theposition of the other fingers of said glove.

Y 2. In a golf glove, a buckle disposed adjacent the wrist section onthe palm side thereof, a

strap secured to the back of the third and fourth fingers thereof, saidstrap having a reduced portion for engagement with said buckle.

3. In a golf glove, fastening means disposed adjacent the wrist sectionon the palm side thereof, and a flexible member secured to the third andfourth fingers of the glove which when engaged by said fastening meanswill retain said fingers in a substantially closed fist-like position.

4. In a golf glove, fastening means disposed at the inside wrist sectionthereof, flexible means secured to the stalls for the third and fourthfingers which when engaged by said fastening means will retain the saidfingers of the glove in a substantially fist like closed position.

5. In a golf glove, means for securing the third and fourth fingers ofthe wearer against relative movement, and means cooperating with saidfirst-named means for securing said fingers in a substantially fist likeclosed position.

6. In a golf glove, a strap attached to the back of the third and fourthfingers of the glove, and

a buckle for said strap disposed adjacent the wrist portion of theglove.

'7. In a golf glove, retainer means securing the third and fourthfingers against relative movement, and a buckle for said retainer meansdisposed adjacent the wrist portion of the glove.

8. In a golf glove, a strap attached to the third and fourth fingers tosecure them against relative movement, and a fastener for said strapdisposed on the inside wrist portion of the glove nearest the thiunb.

9. In a golf glove, a strap attached to the third and fourth fingers tosecure them against relative movement, a buckle for said strap disposedon the wrist portion of the glove nearest the thumb, and a reinforcingstrap disposed about the wrist portion.

PETER HAY.

